10 Things You Can Learn About Plumbing Now

In older water heaters it’s called a thermocouple which is a heat sensing bulb attached to a copper capillary which connects to the fuel control valve. It produces a small electrical signal (millivolts) which allows the pilot to stay lit. In newer style water heaters the manufacturers will provide either the traditional thermocouple or a pilot generator which is a larger sized sensing bulb and instead if a copper capillary tube, they actually use shielded light gauged wires which connect to the fuel control valve and again allow the pilot to stay lit. In older water heaters thermocouples have a tendency to burn out which is not unusual, but in some cases, it may have moved out of position keeping it from sensing the heat generated by the pilot light. I’ve actually seen new water heaters having pilot outage issues because the thermocouple moved out of position while in transit. In nine out of ten cases in my experience, the Gas Water Heater Pilot Light went out because the thermocouple lost it ability to generate enough voltage to keep the pilot going. A common repair in the world of gas water heaters. I have not had the opportunity to replace a pilot generator with the shielded wire leads on a gas water heater to date. Although I did have to replace one on my own gas fireplace. In the video below I illustrate an older water heater followed by a more modern version and take through some steps needed should you decide to attempt this repair yourself. WARNING: I do not recommend the D.I.Y.

Sewer problems are a must know when buying a new house and is a definite condition for you to note and take a look at prior to purchasing a home. If more than one line is backing up then there is a possible sewer problem. Backing up includes water coming up from the drains or in the toilet can be a red flag of a sewer problem. Gurgling or bubbling sounds are also a red flag if they are coming from multiple plumbing fixtures. Similar to backing-up plumbing, clogged drain may be another larger cause than just debris in the drain. This goes along the lines of tree roots getting into sewer lines, causing clogs and then eventually full blockages. If you suspect that there is a problem with your sewer system, give a trusted plumbing company a call. They will come out and initially use an auger to try to break up what ever is causing the blockage. However, in some causes the problem won’t be fixed by this method. So, they can use a camera inspection that shows exactly what and where the problem is. This helps reduce the damage to your yard by preventing unnecessary excavation.

While tankless hot water heaters have been used in Europe and Japan for decades, they are fairly new to the US. However, they are quickly gaining popularity among homeowners, who love the device’s numerous advantages over the traditional storage water heaters. Lets take a look at the pros and cons of switching to a tankless hot water heater. The concept behind a tankless hot water heater is simple: it warms up the water and delivers it to you, just when you need it. Hence, the name: on-demand. Unlike, in a storage water heater, where water sits around and needs to be periodically reheated to be ready for use, a tankless device does not store any water. Instead, when needed, the water comes in, gets heated and is delivered into the piping system that brings it to the appliances being used: shower, faucet, washer, dishwasher, etc. Because a tankless gas heater does not constantly warm up water, it can save up to 30% more energy than a gas storage heater. Advantages of a Tankless Hot Water Heater Here are the main advantages of a tankless device. Keep in mind that depending on your particular household size and water usage, you may realize all or only a few of the heater’s benefits.

Although this was six attached condominiums and my limits at that time would never have covered a complete loss! I took a long lunch break came back and finished soldering on the cold water valve, followed by a thorough cleaning of the bathroom. The following day I sent my tile man to the house to re-insulate and patch the wallboard, followed by painting the entire bathroom. An experience I will never forget nor take Gordontheplumber.com Fox Valley IL for granted when using an open flame inside or outside of a wall. All it takes is one stray spark to get away and your life could change forever. How To Solder Copper Tubing & Avoid a Disaster! I tell this story so those of you who are considering doing some D.I.Y. soldering are aware that there are some products available on the market that will greatly reduce (not eliminate) the chances of something like the above from happening to you. One is La-Co Heat Gel Cool Barrier Spray which you can spray on all the surrounding areas to avoid heat transfer to most surfaces.

After all, the clients have called us because they are unhappy. They are unhappy that something is wrong in their home.” Eisenhauer says the positive attitude begins with Goodrich, who, he says, is “upbeat and can-do and pretty demanding, too. He attracts the best talent — not just recruits them.” The upbeat company attracts customers, too. It holds them through such innovations as The Sunshine Club, an annual maintenance agreement in which The Sunny Plumber techs inspect all fixtures, check the pressure on lines, do recommended maintenance on the water heater, and flush drains. The agreement promises two drain clean-outs each year and a camera inspection whenever a snake is deployed to clear a line. Sometimes these inspections generate additional plumbing work, sometimes not. “If the house is in good shape, we’re going to tell the homeowner so,” Eisenhauer says. “If there are issues, we are going to say this is what you have going on. If you don’t want it fixed, fine.